October – all work and no gardening

Ch-ch-ch- changes

Moved the sarcoccoca to the back of the pond, planted a chrysanthemum in a pot by the pond and six large cyclamen around the front. It looks much less bleak. A basket of grasses in the pond looks good and offers a way for the frogs to get out of the water. Was worried they were trapped, now wondering if they will ever come back.

Removed the dahlia mignon from the corner by the cold frame – it was still flowering, oh the guilt! Replaced it with a fatsia japonica which will hopefully fill that space. Took the sage from its pot and planted it by the clump of Shasta daisies but I think it’s dead or at least dying. Moved the rudbeckia to the gap where the sarcococca used to be. It might work with the Heleniums if/when they come back next year, but the soil in that bed is like dust so it might be the end of it. Still buds coming on the cosmos

Planted 26 pushkina ibanorica bulbs: ten around the front of the pond, ten on the West- facing bed opposite and the remainder in the patch under the Bay.

By the end of the month the pond had a small waterlily and a small pot of sedge. Other than skimming off the dead leaves I am going to leave it now until the spring. Gardener’s World tells me water hawthorn will like the shaded nature of my pond where the waterlily might not, and that a fibre optic plant –  scirpus cernuus – will do well semi-submerged – to remember for next year!

Moved the rosemary to the edge of the pond, latest move in the ceaseless quest to find the bit of the garden where rosemary will grow for me. Took the oregano and thyme out of the pot on the patio and planted it out to in front of the cordyline to see if they will overwinter there where there’s more sun. Still flowers on the erigeron and the gaura and buds on the fuchsia.  Lemon verbena still growing beautifully. Alchemilla still green.

Hmmms

Took out the autumn fruiting raspberry which has never done well. Hydrangeas have been disappointing – no flowers on either of them. Guelder rose is hopefully just getting established, but no sign of flowers or fruit. Sedums were good for a short period but seemed to be over very quickly.

Weather

Start of the month it was warm and sunny with temperatures up to 25 degrees – unnatural. Weather has been wetter since then but not what you’d call cold. The trees haven’t really started changing colour yet.